I know of someone who was convicted of a sex crime in Michigan, but his/her name is not on the list. Why not?
There are several reasons a sex offender may not be on the Public Sex Offender Registry, including:

The offender is an adjudicated juvenile.

The offender is deceased.

The offender is not a Michigan resident.

The offender’s conviction was not a listed offense requiring registration.

The offender’s conviction date was prior to October 1, 1995, and the offender was no longer involved with the criminal justice system for that offense at that time.

The offender was granted removal from the registry by a judge via court order.

The offender’s registration duration has ended.

The offender is registered for a single Tier 1 offense with the exception of the following Tier 1 offenses:

M.C.L. 750.145C4

M.C.L. 750.335A2B

M.C.L. 750.349B

M.C.L. 750.539J (including all variables)

An offense substantially similar to an offense listed above under a law of any state or any country, or under tribal or military law.

How do I sign up to receive an email notification when a sex offender moves into my neighborhood?

o Access the Public Sex Offender Registry site. Click on the “Register for Email Alerts” button at the top of the screen.

o Enter your name and home/email addresses. A home address and email address are required so that the registry can provide you notification when a registered sex offender moves, enrolls in school, or is employed within the radius of the address you have entered. Your email data will not be shared with any other individuals or organizations.

o Select a radius of .25, .5, 1, or 2 miles. Check the box to acknowledge you read the notice. Click on “Register”.

o You will receive an email confirmation by the next day.

o You can register multiple addresses with the same email account, i.e., sign up to be notified of offenders living within a radius of your home, school, employment, etc.

How do I change the address and/or radius designations?
To change your address or radius designations, open your last email notification you received and click on the link that reads, “If you wish to update your registration information, please click here and enter your new information”. Make your changes and click on Submit.

If your email address changes or if you change Internet Service Provider, please report your new email address to info@crimewatchalert.com so you may continue to receive alerts based on your physical address.

I never received an email notification to confirm my registration. Why not?
Because all browsers work differently, the email may have automatically been saved in a folder other than the “new” mail folder. Please check all incoming folders (Spam, Bulk Mail, etc.) of your email service.To better ensure that you receive the latest information you requested, please add the following email address to your personal address book:notifications@icrimewatch.net.

How do I deactivate my email notification account?
To deactivate your account, go to the Public Sex Offender Registry site and click the “Unsubscribe from Email Alerts” link on the bottom of the page. Type in your email address two times and click on “Unsubscribe”.

Can I track a specific offender’s moves?

Yes. After doing a search for an offender, click on the offender’s photo, name, or the magnifying glass and you will be taken to the Offender Details page. Click on the link below the photo titled “Register to track this offender”. Enter your name and email address and acknowledge you read the notification notice. Click on “Register”. You will receive an email confirmation by the next day. Any time the offender moves, changes employment, or enrolls in school, you will be notified via email.

Can I download the entire list of sex offenders and their information from the Internet?
The entire list of registered sex offenders and the corresponding information is not available for download at this time. You can, however, print each page you access.

Can the offender’s victim information be released?
No. Michigan law does not allow dissemination of victim information.

There are new search features on the Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry website. Can you explain these?

The new site allows users to perform six search types to locate offenders:

o In your area: Use this search to view all published offenders within a specified radius of your home, business, school or other desired address.

o Name: Use this search to locate published offenders by last or first name (or any alias first or last name). Any match or partial match will be displayed.

o City: Use this search to locate published offenders by city of residence. Any match or partial match will be displayed.

o Non-compliant: Use this search to locate published Non-compliant offenders.

o County: Use this search to locate published offenders by county.

o Zip Code: Use this search to locate published offenders by zip code.

What does the Status on the Offender Details page mean?

The Status can include one of four possibilities. See below for a brief description of each Status:

Active (Compliant) – The offender has no known violations with the Sex Offender Registry.

Active (Non-Compliant) – The offender has one or more of the following violations with the Sex Offender Registry:

The offender has failed to pay a required registration fee.

The offender has failed to sign a required registration form.

The offender has failed to report to a law enforcement agency to verify current address.

The offender has failed to report to a law enforcement agency to provide a current address.

The offender has failed to report to a law enforcement agency to report enrollment or discontinuation of enrollment in an institution of higher learning.

The offender has failed to report to a law enforcement agency to report employment or discontinuation of employment.

The offender has failed to report to a law enforcement agency to report a vehicle or discontinuation of use of a vehicle.

The offender has failed to report to a law enforcement agency to obtain a Michigan driver’s license or personal identification card.

The offender has failed to report to a law enforcement agency to provide internet screen names and/or email addresses.

Inactive-Incarcerated – The offender is currently incarcerated in the state of Michigan.

Pending Out of State – The offender is currently relocating to another state or country. Registration requirements in the new state or country have not yet been determined.

Can I see a map of an offender’s location?

Yes. After doing a search for an offender, click on the offender’s photo, name, or the magnifying glass and you will be taken to the Offender Details page. Under the address heading, click on “View Map” and you will be taken to a map of the offender’s location. The map is adjustable to zoom in and out. If the offender’s address has not been mapped, you will see the message “Address not mappable at this time” under the address heading and you will not be able to produce a map of the address.

If I click on the Links button at the top of the page, where do the links take me?
The links displayed within the Links button provide the following information:

Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS): This site allows a search of offenders previously or currently under the jurisdiction or supervision of the Michigan Department of Corrections.

Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT): This site allows users to search the Michigan Criminal History Record database. It is updated daily with felony and misdemeanor arrest, charge and conviction information provided by law enforcement, prosecuting attorneys and courts throughout the State of Michigan. This search does not include federal arrests or criminal records from other states’ public websites.

National Sex Offender Website: This link will take you to the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website, coordinated by the U.S. Department of Justice. This is a cooperative effort between the state agencies hosting public sexual offender registries and the federal government to provide sex offender information at a national level.

Michigan Prosecuting Attorneys Coordinating Council: The Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan is an association of 83 county prosecutors whose mission is to keep the prosecuting attorneys of the state informed of all changes in legislation, law, and matters pertaining to their office through the department of attorney general of the state of Michigan.

Michigan Courts: This link provides contact information for all juvenile, district, and circuit courts in Michigan.

MSP Computer Crimes Against Children: This link provides information on the investigative services provided by the Michigan State Police relating to computer-related crimes. It also provides helpful information regarding internet safety for parents and kids.

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children: The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children is a nonprofit organization in the U.S. working with law enforcement, families, and the professionals who serve them on issues related to missing and sexually exploited children. The link provides a wide range of information from volunteer opportunities to resources for family and law enforcement.

FBI Innocent Images National Initiative: The Innocent Images National Initiative joins FBI agents with local and international task force members who collaborate in online undercover investigations specifically geared towards stopping those who prey on our children. The link provides an overview and history, success stories, ways to protect your children, and contact information to report child exploitation.

Jacob Wetterling Resource Center: This link provides education and assistance to families and communities to address and prevent child exploitation by putting on-line and in-person safety information in the hands of every man, woman, and child.

Jessica Marie Lunsford Foundation: This link focuses on missing children including statistics and photos of missing children.

Megan Nicole Kanka Foundation: This link gives the story of Megan Nicole Kanka, a 7-year girl who was lured into a neighbor’s home with the hopes of seeing his puppy and shortly after, was raped and murdered. Her parents created this website to inform parents what to teach their children. The site also allows for donations and volunteer opportunities.

Klaas Kids Foundation: The Klaas Kids foundation was formed to create a legacy in the name of Polly Hannah Klaas that would be protective of children for generations to come. The Foundation’s mission is to stop crimes against children.

The Joyful Child Foundation: The Joyful Child Foundation is dedicated to preventing crimes against children through programs that educate, empower, and unite families and communities.

Vinelink: Vinelink stands for Victim Information and Notification Every day. This internet service allows crime victims to obtain timely and reliable information about criminal cases and the custody status of offenders 24 hours a day.

Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network: Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization. The site provides information to learn more about sexual assault, ways to seek help via a Sexual Assault Hotline, and accepts online donations to support the cause.

Office for Victims of Crime: All states receive Federal funds from Office for Victims of Crime to help support local victim assistance and compensation programs. Information on assistance and compensation programs in your local area is available on this site.

Who has to register as a sexual offender in Michigan?(1) Subject to subsection (2), the following individuals who are domiciled or temporarily reside in this state or who work with or without compensation or are students in this state are required to be registered under this act:

An individual who is convicted of a listed offense after October 1, 1995.

An individual convicted of a listed offense on or before October 1, 1995 if on October 1, 1995 he or she is on probation or parole, committed to jail, committed to the jurisdiction of the department of corrections, or under the jurisdiction of the juvenile division of the probate court or the department of human services for that offense or is placed on probation or parole, committed to jail, committed to the jurisdiction of the department of corrections, placed under the jurisdiction of the juvenile division of the probate court or family division of circuit court, or committed to the department of human services after October 1, 1995 for that offense.

An individual convicted on or before October 1, 1995 of an offense described in section 2(d)(vi) as added by 1994 PA 295 if on October 1, 1995 he or she is on probation or parole that has been transferred to this state for that offense or his or her probation or parole is transferred to this state after October 1, 1995 for that offense.

An individual from another state who is required to register or otherwise be identified as a sex or child offender or predator under a comparable statute of that state.

An individual who was previously convicted of a listed offense for which he or she was not required to register under this act, but who is convicted of any other felony on or after July 1, 2011.

(2) An individual convicted of an offense added on September 1, 1999 to the definition of listed offense is not required to be registered solely because of that listed offense unless 1 of the following applies:

The individual is convicted of that listed offense on or after September 1, 1999.

On September 1, 1999, the individual is on probation or parole, committed to jail, committed to the jurisdiction of the department of corrections, under the jurisdiction of the family division of circuit court, or committed to the department of human services for that offense or the individual is placed on probation or parole, committed to jail, committed to the jurisdiction of the department of corrections, placed under the jurisdiction of the family division of circuit court, or committed to the department of human services on or after September 1, 1999 for that offense.

On September 1, 1999, the individual is on probation or parole for that offense which has been transferred to this state or the individual’s probation or parole for that offense is transferred to this state after September 1, 1999.

On September 1, 1999, in another state or country the individual is on probation or parole, committed to jail, committed to the jurisdiction of the department of corrections or a similar type of state agency, under the jurisdiction of a court that handles matters similar to those handled by the family division of circuit court in this state, or committed to an agency with the same authority as the department of human services for that offense.

(3) A nonresident who is convicted in this state on or after July 1, 2011, of committing a listed offense who is not otherwise described in subsection (1) shall nevertheless register under this act. However, the continued reporting requirements of this act do not apply to the individual while he or she remains a nonresident and is not otherwise required to report under this act. The individual shall have his or her photograph taken under section 5a.

What are the listed offenses?
Pursuant to M.C.L. 28.722, the following are the listed offenses that require registration in Michigan. Juvenile offenders are only required to register for Tier 3 offenses.Tier 1

Assault with Intent to Commit CSC in the Second Degree, if the victim is less than 13 years of age (M.C.L. 750.520g2)

Any offense substantially similar to a listed offense under a law of the United States, any state, or any country or under tribal or military law.

What are the registry responsibilities of sex offenders?1. Offenders must report in-person to their local law enforcement agency or state police post to verify their address according to the following schedule:

Tier 1 offenders must verify their address once a year during the month of their birth.

Tier 2 Offenders must verify their address two times per year based on the schedule below:

Birthday Month

Reporting Months

January

January and July

February

February and August

March

March and September

April

April and October

May

May and November

June

June and December

July

January and July

August

February and August

September

March and September

October

April and October

November

May and November

December

June and December

Tier 3 Offenders must verify their address four times per year based on the schedule below:

Birth Month

Reporting Months

January

January, April, July, and October

February

February, May, August, and November

March

March, June, September, and December

April

January, April, July, and October

May

February, May, August, and November

June

March, June, September, and December

July

January, April, July, and October

August

February, May, August, and November

September

March, June, September, and December

October

January, April, July, and October

November

February, May, August, and November

December

March, June, September, and December

Offenders must report the following information within three (3) business days:

Change in residence or domicile

Any temporary lodging information other than their residence for more than seven (7) days

Change in place of employment or discontinuation of employment

Vehicle information for vehicles owned or operated by the offender and discontinuation of ownership or use

Legal name changes

Email addresses and screen names

Enrollment at an institution of higher learning or discontinuation of enrollment

Offenders must provide the following information during their next verification period:

Tier 1 offenders must register for 15 years excluding any periods of incarceration.

Tier 2 offenders must register for 25 years excluding any periods of incarceration.

Tier 3 offenders must register for life.

How do I obtain additional information on an offense committed by a registered offender?
If you know the county in which the offense was committed, you can contact the court of conviction to request a copy of the court file. A complete directory of Michigan Trial Courts can be found on the Michigan Courts website.If you do not know the county in which the offense was committed, you can obtain a copy of the criminal history record (CHR) through the Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT). The criminal history record will include the county in which the offense occurred. You can then contact the court of conviction and request a copy of the court file. A search on ICHAT requires the individual’s name and date of birth. There is a fee for each search. To access ICHAT, please click here.Please note: A conviction will not appear on a criminal history check if the offender has a sealed or expunged record or was convicted in another state.

What is the difference between the Sex Offender Registry (SOR) and the Public Sex Offender Registry (PSOR)?
The SOR is the database that contains the sex offender registration records (both public and non-public offender information) that is available only for law enforcement purposes.The PSOR is the internet site that displays the public offender information contained in the SOR database for the public to view.

Are there juvenile offenders on the PSOR?
No. Juvenile offenders do not appear on the Public Sex Offender Registry.

What happens when an offender moves to another state?
Offenders who move to another state are required to report to their nearest law enforcement agency 3 business days prior to moving to provide their new address. The MSP Sex Offender Registration Unit then notifies the other state of the offender’s reported new address. Offenders who move to another country are required to report to their local law enforcement agency 21 days prior to moving to provide their new address.After leaving the state, offenders will no longer appear on the PSOR website and are no longer active registrants unless they relocate back to Michigan.Once in the new state, offenders must comply with the registry requirements of that state.

Who should I contact if I know of an error on the website?
If you are aware of an error regarding an offender’s information on the website, you may either submit a tip to the Sex Offender Registry or you can contact the law enforcement agency where the offender’s registered address is located.

Who should I contact if I think an offender is in violation of the Sex Offenders Registration Act?
If you think an offender is in violation of his registration requirements, you should contact the local law enforcement agency where the offender is actually residing.

Are there websites similar to the Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry where I can access information regarding registered sex offenders in other states?
Yes. Some states have Internet sites listing registered sex offenders within their state. A list of websites by state can be found at:http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cid/cac/registry.htm.In addition, the U.S. Department of Justice established the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website at www.nsopw.gov. This site allows citizens to search the sex offender registries of participating states.

If the Public Sex Offender website is not working properly, who do I report that to?